Historical Papers
Dorrian, C., 1994, Captive Management of Carettochelys insculpta, Herpetofauna, 24(1):15-18
Power-Twist fluorescent tubes emitting ultra violet light are suspended approximately 20cm above each pond. These are illuminated for 11 hours each day. To provide access to natural sunlight, the animals are rotated to a shallow outdoor pond on a daily basis during the summer months. Heaphy (1990) reports that groups of C. insculpta were observed in situ basking just below the surface level in shallow water.
Although C. insculpta does not emerge from the water to bask, each has a suspended platform with an access ramp. These platforms were installed as a precautionary measure that in the event of the submersible water heater malfunctioning the animal can escape the water before it overheats.
DIET
Pig-nosed turtles are opportunistic omnivores. Foods recorded from field observations include figs, pandanus fruits, flowers, leaves, and seeds that fall into the water from riparian vegetation. Water snails, mussels, insect larvae and carrion have also been recorded from their faeces. (Georges, 1987).
Taronga turtles are fed a wide range of food including Paw paw, broccoli, banana, figs, mulberry, orange, peas, sweet potato, milk thistle and hibiscus flowers. Pink mice, small whole fish, yabbies and prawns (unshelled but with heads removed) are also offered and eaten on a regular basis.
Observations of our captive individuals show a distinct preference towards herbivory rather than carnivory. For example, when offered pieces of paw paw, prawns and pink mice simultaneously, each animal will eat the paw paw first. Individual dietary preferences have been observed. For example, only one animal will readily eat dried fig, but, unlike the others, that individual shows no interest in mulberry leaves.
CONCLUSION
Although the most unique of Australia's freshwater turtles, my observations suggest that Carettochelys insculpta cannot be displayed in the company of members of its own species without an expectation of injury. Individual aquarium tanks would appear to be the only successful way to exhibit more than one animal.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
My thanks to Dr Linda Heaphy for allowing me access to her unpublished Ph.D. thesis, and to Rolf Bichbaumer for translating "Die Papua-Schildtkrote Carettochelys insculpta in Australien!".
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